Bomb squad called after live grenade found in Pelham home

PELHAM — The Nashua police department’s bomb squad was called to a home on Main Street in Pelham Sunday night to dispose of what turned out to be a live grenade.

Pelham Fire Lt. Greg Atwood said a relative of a homeowner found the grenade around 7:43 p.m. in a home at 88 Main Street.

"The home was unoccupied at the time," said Atwood. "There was a relative there checking on the home and clearing a few things out, when they found a grenade and called the police."

According to Pelham police, Charles Pickwell, 43, formerly of Pelham, was cleaning out the basement of his mother’s residence when he located a grenade canister. Pickwell opened the canister and found a live rusted pineapple grenade with the pin halfway extracted. He carried the canister outside of the residence and contacted emergency services.

Police responded to the scene, shutting down Bridge Street (Route 38) in the area of Main Street to all traffic. Fire crews assisted with the road closures.

Pelham police requested the assistance of the Nashua police bomb squad, which arrived on scene shortly after 9 p.m. and entered the home. Atwood said bomb squad members determined the object was in fact a live grenade, secured the device, and transported it away from the area and detonated at an undisclosed location.

Bridge and Main streets were reopened to all traffic around 9:45 p.m. Sunday.